The charming Cherry Blossom in Seattle

Vernal sunshine, warm breezes, energetic squirrels and longer days mean spring is coming. But in the UW campus springtime can only mean one thing–cherry blossoms. The amazing smell and colorful petals waft gently through the air and make the campus a charming place to stroll.

Usually the bloom comes out in March, but it varies each year and depends on the sunlight and temperature. This year the bloom came later because of the consistent rain and the cold weather. But the full bloom of blossoms still gives us many surprises and expectations.

A cherry blossom is the flower that can come from different kinds of cherry trees. Usually each flower has five light pink petals. However, the color of these cherry blossoms becomes lighter while they are in bloom. In Japan, the cherry bloom can be used as an ingredient in food.

The cherry trees in the UW Quad are a symbol of the history between the UW and Japan. In 1912, the Mayor of Tokyo donated some cherry trees to the United States on behalf of the friendship and peace between the U.S. and Japan. Thirty-one of the trees were planted in the UW Quad.

The cherry blossoms of the UW are famous. Many people come to see and enjoy the blooms from a distance. They are the messengers of spring and the symbol of peace.